Fruit-picker.



L. B. MoDONAiD.

FRUIT PIOKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 1, 1910.

v Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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LIZZIE BATTLE MCDONALD, 0F ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA.

FRUIT-PICKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Application filed March 1, 1910. Serial No. 546,682.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LIZZIE B. l\/ICDONALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rocky Mount, in the county of Nash and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Pickers, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to an improvement in fruit pickers, the primary object thereof being to construct a device of this character, which may be dismantled or taken apart to facilitate the packing and shipping thereof and to economize in the space heretofore necessary to suitably pack and ship articles of this character.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a fruit picker which will cleanly sever the stem of the fruit, thereby eliminating the objectionable feature of pulling the stem from the fruit and thus depreciating the value thereof.

A still further object of this invention is to form a device of this character which will be extremely simple in construction and which maybe manufactured and disposed of at a low cost.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a view in elevation disclosing the severing member or knife and the means for holding the knife in its applied position. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the pole or handle being shown in elevation.

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein, like parts are indicated by like reference characters, the numeral 1 designates a flexible receptacle made of any suitable material, which is suspended from the ring 2. The free end of this receptacle, when the ring and bag are being assembled, is passed through the ring and turned outwardly and downwardly and stitched or otherwise secured to the body of the bag, as at 3, throughout its entire extent with the exception of a short space at the point where the ring seats against its supporting member 4. This supporting member comprises a shank 4, thelower end of which has a socket formation 5, adapted to receive the upper end of the pole or handle 6. In order to form a seat for the bag suspending ring 2, the upper or free end of the shank 4 is offset to form the shoulder 8, the portion of the shank above said shoulder being substantially parallel to, and in contact with the adjacent portion of the ring 2, when the parts are assembled.

The severing member or knife consists of a semiresilient piece of appropriate metal, which is arranged at right angles to the mouth or open end of the bag. This severing or knife member, which cooperates as will presently be explained with the member 4, in maintaining the fruit receptacle in correct position, comprises a bifurcated shank 9, provided with the oppositely disposed flanges 10. Adjacent to the ends of these flanges and integral therewith, cars 11 are formed which are turned or bent inwardly and downwardly, thus providing means for engaging the bag suspending ring 2.

A pair of substantially U shaped guide arms 12, integrally connected with the shank of the knife, form a guide way 12 which terminates in a substantially triangular orifice 19. This orifice is formed by a transversely inwardly extending lip 20, the lower edge of which is beveled to provide a sharp cutting edge 21 which extends contiguously down and around the upper edge of the portion of the knife shank which is included by the two arms 12.

In assembling the above described parts the bag carrying ring is seated upon the shoulder 8 of the shank 4. The bifurcated shank of the knife member is then placed in position, the ears 11 engaging the ba ring, while the small rectangular lug 13, ormed on the shank 4, fits in the bifurcation of the shank 9, whereby said shank will be held against lateral displacement. In order to positively secure the knife member in place, the shank 4 is provided with a square aperture 14 through which the bolt 15 projects, a portion of said bolt being squared as at 16, to correspond with the formation of the aperture 14, thus preventing the rotation of the bolt. The projecting end of this bolt passes through the bifurcation of the shank 9, and receives a winged nut 17, a suitable washer 18, being interposed between the wing nut and the bifurcated shank 9.

From the above description it will be seen that if, for any reason it is desired to remove the fruit receptacle, or if it becomes necessary to sharpen the cutting edges of the knife the loosening of the winged nut 17 will permit the instant removal of the knife or the raising thereof so that the receptacle and its suspending ring may be readily re- I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fruit picker, the combination with a receptacle and its supporting ring, of a handle against which the supporting ring seats, and a stem severing member, removably and adjustably secured to said handle and engaging said bag supporting ring to hold the same in position.

2. In a fruit picker, the combination with a receptacle and its supporting ring, of a handle against which the supporting ring seats, and a stem severing member, removably and adjustably secured to said handle said severing member having ears engaging the supporting ring to hold the same against accidental displacement.

3. In a deviceof the class described the combination of a bag supporting ring, a supporting member provided with an offset portion to form a seat for said ring and a stem severingknife, engaging said ring and having adjustable connection with the supporting member whereby the bag suspending ring will be removably held against accidental displacement.

The foregoing specification signed .at Rocky Mount N. C. this 29 day of Jany. 1910.

C. W. COGHILL,

STRONACH WVILKINSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of'Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

